More Children, More Trash – Trim Your Waste

This post is sponsored by Glad®. Take small steps to reduce waste and earn a chance to win big. Sign up for Glad’s Trim Your Waste program here.

 

When I became a mom, I was laser focused on having the best for my baby. That meant researching and buying baby gear and clothes at lightning speed. What I wasn’t focused on was how much waste my little bitty family was starting to produce. How could one tiny baby add so much to our waste bins? Well, add two more kids plus a move to San Francisco, and I quickly wised up to that fact that our waste barometer just wasn’t cool anymore. I knew a few changes needed to be made, and as a family, we could be more mindful about waste reduction. With a few small tweaks, we were able to make a big impact. Here’s what we’ve done personally to help make a difference.

1. Start young and start in the nursery. I loved spending time in my first nursery, but I couldn’t stand the diaper pail. The look, the smell and the fact that I had to buy specific bags for the thing really annoyed me. When I discovered the Ubbi Diaper Pail, I realized it could help me reduce waste too. The stainless steel construction meant less plastic overall, and the fact that I could use any bag meant we had more options to either recycle bags we already had or use my Glad Force Flex tall kitchen bags, which are tear resistant and use less plastic. I can also happily report that my sleek Ubbi Diaper Pail has been upcycled to my office as a regular ol’ waste bin since my diapering days are finally over!

2. Empower your kids. I also wanted to teach my kids to reduce waste and make our home more “green.” Composting was a great way for them to understand that what we threw away could actually be turned into something useful. Even my littlest knows all about our kitchen compost bin and compostable bags. Now when we cook as a family, I always let the kids load up our compost bin with our excess food scraps, and sometimes we even vote for the foods we think will end up making the best soil for new plants. Sounds dorky, but I can’t help but argue that my morning artisanal coffee grinds will add some extra zing.

3. Know the rules. When we are out and about in San Francisco, it makes me proud that all of my kids know the rules of composting. Sometimes they have to remind me that most take-out containers are actually compostable! You too can show your kids what goes where and to think before you toss at an early age. Need a reminder? Here’s a convenient compostable chart and recyclable chart that can be printed.

As a parent, I am constantly learning and changing. I’ve quickly come to realize that a small change, such as placing a banana in a separate bin, makes a big difference! So I now challenge you, readers, to “trim your waste.” In a few small steps, you can reduce waste and earn a chance to win a big prize from Glad. The official rules can be found here.

This post is sponsored by Glad®. Take small steps to reduce waste and earn a chance to win big. Sign up for Glad’s Trim Your Waste program here.